# Make your first video

This page takes you from installing ClipCat to an exported video. Each step links to the page with the details.

## What you need

- A Mac with macOS 14 or newer (Apple Silicon or Intel), or a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC.
- One of these for the AI suggestions: a Claude plan with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code), a ChatGPT plan with Codex, or your own Claude, OpenAI or OpenRouter API key. Everything else in ClipCat works without one.
- There's no ClipCat account. Nothing to sign up for.

## 1. Install ClipCat

1. Download the installer from [the download page](https://clipcat.followusai.com/download). Pick the Intel version if your Mac's About This Mac says Processor rather than Chip.
2. On a Mac, open the DMG and drag ClipCat to Applications. On Windows, run the installer.
3. Open ClipCat. You see the library, which is empty the first time.

## 2. Bring in a take

Choose **Add videos** and pick one or more recordings, or drag files from Finder or Explorer onto the window. Each import makes a new project. To record straight into ClipCat instead, choose **Record**. See [Record a take](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/recording.md) and [Add videos and transcribe them](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/importing.md).

ClipCat now prepares each recording and transcribes it on your computer. The first time, it downloads the speech model once (a few hundred megabytes). The project card shows the progress.

## 3. Open the project

Choose the project's name. The editor opens with the preview in the middle, the transcript beside it, and the tools below it. See [Find your way around the editor](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/editor.md).

Long pauses are already suggested as cuts. They're listed under **Suggested edits** on the **Edit** tab.

## 4. Set up the AI editor

Open **Settings > AI editor** (the gear in the library, or **Set up** in the **AI editor** section of the **Edit** tab) and pick one:

- **Claude Code**: install it and sign in once by running `claude auth login` in a terminal. Or install it from the same page.
- **Codex**: install the Codex CLI and run `codex login` once.
- **Claude API**, **OpenAI** or **OpenRouter**: paste your key and choose **Save key**.

If the AI isn't ready, its row says why. See [Settings](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/settings.md#ai-editor).

## 5. Get the suggested edit

Choose **Suggest an edit**. You can first tell it what the edit should do, like "Keep the intro, cut the tangent about pricing". After a minute or two, the suggestions appear under **Suggested edits**: retakes, filler words, tangents, zooms, b-roll and sound effects, each with a reason.

Click a suggestion to play that spot. Choose the check mark to accept it or the cross to reject it, or use **Accept all**. See [Review the suggested edit](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/ai-editor.md).

## 6. Fix what's left in the transcript

Click a word to jump there. Shift-click another word to select everything between, then press Delete to cut it. Double-click a word to fix its spelling. Press Cmd+Z on a Mac or Ctrl+Z on Windows to undo. See [Edit the transcript](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/transcript.md).

## 7. Set the look

On the **Look** tab, pick the shape (landscape 16:9 or vertical 9:16) and the caption style. See [Set the shape and captions](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/shape-and-captions.md).

## 8. Export

On the **Export** tab, choose **Export 16:9** or **Export 9:16** and pick where to save the MP4. An .srt caption file is saved beside it. See [Export the video](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/export.md).

## Next

- Make shorts from the same recording: [Make shorts](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/shorts.md).
- Write the chapters, description and article: [Write the chapters and article](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/chapters-and-article.md).
- Make a thumbnail: [Make a thumbnail](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/thumbnail.md).
- Let Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or another agent do the editing for you: [Use ClipCat from your coding agent](https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/agents.md).

Last updated 29 October 2026.

Web page: https://clipcat.followusai.com/docs/getting-started